Safety guidelines are vital when biking for both children and adults. According to 2009 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half a million people in the United States are treated in emergency rooms each year for bike-related injuries, and nearly 60 percent of them are children. To reduce those numbers, it's important for everyone who gets on a bike to take the proper safety measures.
Helmets
Wearing a helmet is the No. 1 safety precaution to take while riding a bike. According to KidsHealth from the Nemours Foundation, most children who die from bike-related accidents have fatal head injuries. Because you have the potential to fall off your bike or collide with something every time you ride, it's important to wear your helmet whenever you get on the bike, even if you're only going down the street and back. Your helmet should fit snugly and be horizontal on your head, covering your forehead well. If you do get into an accident and your helmet takes a beating, replace it.
Visibility
One common reason for accidents that involve bikes and motor vehicles is that drivers don't see bicyclists until it's too late. If you're going to ride at night or in weather that offers poor visibility, have a bright light for the front of your bike to guide your way and bright reflectors in the back of your bike so drivers can see you from a distance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also recommends wearing neon or fluorescent clothing and using reflectors when you're on your bike, no matter what the visibility level is.
Laws
A bicycle is classified as a vehicle in the United States, meaning that bicyclists must obey motor vehicle laws just as drivers must. So ride with the flow of traffic, stop at all stop signs and stop lights, obey traffic signs, yield to drivers when necessary, look out for road hazards and ride in a straight line. Stay in the bike lane if one is provided; otherwise, make sure not to weave in and out of traffic.
Be Alert
Although drivers do cause many bike-related accidents by failing to notice bicyclists, riders are also at fault for hundreds of accidents each year. By always being alert and aware of your surroundings, you can dramatically reduce your risk of injury. Never assume that a driver of a motor vehicle can see you just because you can see the vehicle; if there's any doubt, yield. Don't wear headphones when you ride, and don't drink, use drugs or do anything else that could compromise your focus before you get on your bike. Finally, use common sense when riding and treat any situation that could become dangerous with caution.
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